engpg007 msc projects handbook-rev1-mar 2010

8/11/2019 ENGPG007 MSc Projects Handbook-Rev1-Mar 2010

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The Robert Gordon University

School of Engineering - Postgraduate Programme

MSc Project Handbook

Energy Programme

MSc/PgD/PgC in Asset Integrity ManagementMSc/PgD/PgC in Drilling and Well EngineeringMSc/PgD/PgC in Oil and Gas EngineeringMSc/PgD/PgC in Petroleum Product ion EngineeringMSc/PgD/PgC in Reservoir EngineeringMSc/PgD/PgC in Subsea Engineering

Contributors:

Dr Mohamed AmishProf Norman Deans

Laurie PowerJo McCafferty

ENGPG007-Rev1 March 2010


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Table of Contents

Introduction................................................................................................................... 4

The Project and the MSc Course.............................................................................. 4

Stage 0 At the start of, or before, the MSc course begins ........................ 5Stage 1 Semester 1 ......................................................................................... 5Stage 2 The Specification............................................................................... 6After Approval the Supervisor ........................................................................ 7Research & Research Methods ........................................................................ 7

1 Introduction to the MSc Project ......................................................................... 81.1 Background to the Project.......................................................................... 81.2 Principles of Operation of the MSc Project Scheme.............................. 81.3 MSc Project Schedule ................................................................................ 9

2 Project Definition and Management ............................................................... 112.1 Projects with Industrial Collaborators..................................................... 112.2 Allocation of Supervisors to Students .................................................... 112.3 Formal Project Specification.................................................................... 112.4 Project Confidentiality............................................................................... 122.5 The use of Specialist Software................................................................ 12

Operation of Project .................................................................................................. 132.6 Role and Responsibilities of a Supervisor............................................. 132.7 Role and Responsibilities of the Second Marker ................................. 142.8 Responsibilities of the Student................................................................ 142.9 Keeping on top of your project ................................................................ 152.10 Finance and Expenditure some key points........................................ 16

3 Project Execution .............................................................................................. 173.1 Liaison with Supervisor ............................................................................ 173.2 Technician Support in the School of Engineering ................................ 173.3 Safety .......................................................................................................... 18

4 Project Preparation ........................................................................................... 194.1 Purposes of the Project Report............................................................... 194.2 Aim of Individual Engineering Research Investigation ........................ 19

4.3 Project Report Types ................................................................................ 194.4 Project Length............................................................................................ 204.5 Type Size, Font and Margins .................................................................. 204.6 General Guidelines for Project Planning ............................................... 214.7 Writing the Project..................................................................................... 214.8 Supplementary Advice on Report Writing ............................................. 224.9 Arrangement of Project Sections ............................................................ 234.10 Caption Page ............................................................................................. 234.11 Title Page.................................................................................................... 244.12 Confidentiality Statement ......................................................................... 244.13 Declaration ................................................................................................. 24

4.14 ODL Employer Supervisor Confirmation ............................................... 244.15 Abstract ....................................................................................................... 24

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4.16 Dedication (optional)................................................................................. 244.17 Acknowledgements ................................................................................... 254.18 Table of Contents ...................................................................................... 254.19 List of Figures ............................................................................................ 254.20 List of Tables.............................................................................................. 25

4.21 List of Symbols, Abbreviations, Nomenclature..................................... 254.22 Main Text .................................................................................................... 264.23 Equations (positioning, numbering and referencing)........................... 264.24 Diagrams .................................................................................................... 274.25 Numbering of Figures, Tables and Captions ........................................ 274.26 Units and Abbreviations ........................................................................... 274.27 References and Bibliography .................................................................. 274.28 Appendices................................................................................................. 284.29 Further Reading on Project Writing ........................................................ 294.30 Important Dates ......................................................................................... 29

5 Poster and Presentation................................................................................... 305.1 Project Poster ............................................................................................ 305.2 Poster Design ............................................................................................ 305.3 Poster Layout............................................................................................. 315.4 Project Presentation.................................................................................. 31

6 Submission & Assessment of Component Parts of the MSc Project........ 336.1 Submission of the Project ........................................................................ 336.2 Deadlines and Extensions ....................................................................... 336.3 Penalties for Late Submission or Failure of the Project ...................... 356.4 Plagiarism & Turnitin................................................................................. 356.5 Calculation of Final Project Mark ............................................................ 366.6 Assessment of Project.............................................................................. 376.7 Role of External Examiners ..................................................................... 386.8 Assessment Board Decisions.................................................................. 386.9 Publicising your Work ............................................................................... 38

Appendix 1: Exemplar MSc Project Specification ................................................ 39Appendix 2: Project Risk Assessment Form......................................................... 41Appendix 3: Confidentiality Statement................................................................... 42Appendix 4: Ethics Forms........................................................................................ 43

Appendix 6: Declaration ........................................................................................... 49Appendix 7: Sample Contents Page ...................................................................... 50Appendix 8: Project Checklist.................................................................................. 51Appendix 9: Template Poster.................................................................................. 53Appendix 10: Assessment Forms ........................................................................... 54



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Introduction

This Guide is intended to be a resource for all MSc Project students on the MSccourses of the School of Engineering. So, it applies to full-time, distance-learning andcorporate students in Aberdeen and all over the world.

This revision (2010) presents much the same advice as in previous versions, butreorganised so that it may be used at different stages in the Project process fromthe very beginning of the MSc course through to final submission and assessment.

All MSc students should read this guide, paying particular attention to the sectionswhich are relevant at a particular stage.

Some sections of the Guide give mandatory instructions for example on format andfont sizes. This is indicated in the text. Other parts of the Guide provide advice andthis should be considered as support for the management of the Project by a student.

The Project Group is happy to give advice at any stage please see the contact details

below. Once the Project Specification has been approved, the principal point ofcontact is the Supervisor.

The Project and the MSc Course

The Project has an academic value of one-third of the entire course. The moduledescriptor (which can be located in the Module database here:http://www4.rgu.ac.uk/prospectus/modules/disp_modulesearch.cfm?)

shows that this module has 60 SCOTCAT points and an indicative workload of 600hours for the student. This is equivalent to a standard working week (say 40 hours)

for 15 weeks between three and four months. This workload is (from experience)very realistic and should be taken in to account in planning. Some students may be

able to complete the necessary work in less time, but this is unusual.

The Project gives a student the opportunity to demonstrate autonomous, extendedand focused intellectual effort resulting in a level of originality and innovationappropriate to the degree of Master. It is not a routine exercise in the collection andpresentation of information.

Aside from the academic aspects of the Project directly related to the course, the workdone can be significant in other ways:

Some students wish to progress to do a PhD. The level of ability demonstratedin the Project is often a major factor in the selection criteria. The MSc Projectcan be considered as a small version of a PhD project.

At job interviews, candidates are often questioned closely about their Projectwork. Interview panels look for the ability to manage extended work of thisnature since this is a good indicator of future job performance.



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Stage 0 At the start of, or before, the MSc course begins

All students are expected to source their own Project specifications. This approach hasthe advantage that a student can choose a project of interest with a sponsor (seebelow) of their choice. Exceptionally, full-time students who are unable to do this willbe provided with a Project topic relevant to their course: unfortunately there can be no

discussion about the allocation of a particular topic.

Students should give the choice of topic serious and extended consideration preferably before joining the course. Full-time students should use every opportunityto attend technical meetings in Aberdeen in order to network with industryprofessionals in order to find a topic. Distance-learning students will, obviously, findthat networking could be a valuable way of finding a Project if one is not availablethrough the workplace.

There is a tendency to leave any thought about the Project until later in the course this is unwise. Managing the early modules must take place in parallel with finding aProject.

Stage 1 Semester 1

Most students will find a Project topic and a sponsor in this period.

What do we mean by a good Project? It is important to understand that this is aMasters course. An online dictionary definition1 includes:

Possession of consummate skill Full command of a subject of study

the state of excelling or surpassing or going beyond usual limits

Of more relevance is the descriptor2 from the national body which co-ordinates academic standards:

Demonstrate a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awarenessof current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, theforefront of their academic discipline, field of study, or area of professionalpractice;

Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make soundjudgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusionsclearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Show a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their ownresearch or advanced scholarship;

Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, andact autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional orequivalent level.

Demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practicalunderstanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used tocreate and interpret knowledge in the discipline;

1 http://www.thefreedictionary.com/mastery - accessed 25 March 20102

SCQF Handbook, downloaded fromhttp://www.scqf.org.uk/AbouttheFramework/LevelDescriptors.aspx - accessed25 March 2010



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Continue to advance their knowledge and understanding, and develop new skillsto a high level.

Show a conceptual understanding that enables the student: to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the

discipline, and to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and,where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses

to demonstrate the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employmentrequiring: the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility; decision-making in

complex and unpredictable situations; and the independent learning abilityrequired for continuing professional development.

If that is a little complex, here is some of the advice from another document from the

School of Engineering:

Masters Level

Mastery means that you become expert in the area of your Project. We expect

that you will show this within the Report, in your Presentation and in all aspectsof your Project work. Your Supervisor from the University will give you adviceand feedback, but the responsibility for managing the Project is entirely yours.

What to Look for in a Good Project

Your Project needs to allow you to show:

Mastery

Effective management

A good level of innovation or originality in dealing with the problem.

Innovation and originality are important features of a good project, and theymean that you must do more than a review of (say) current practice. You must

go beyond what is already established.

Stage 2 The Specification

The Project Specification is mandatory and should be submitted using the formprovided. It is important that all sections are completed as fully and as clearly aspossible. The document is important as the approved version represents part ofthe academic agreement between the University and the student.

The most important parts are:

The contribution. This section should show where the project will add to

what is already known or established.

Threats and Opportunities. This section should anticipate these factors asfar as is possible.

Gantt Chart. It is essential that there is a plan at the very start. You willnot be expected to keep rigidly to this plan.

Specifications are considered by a small panel of academic staff. The outcomescan be:

Approved - and Supervisor allocated. Contact should be made with thesupervisor as soon as possible.



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Provisional Approval subject to changes. These will be indicated in thefeedback. Students will usually be directed to a member of staff forguidance. This outcome usually happens when the Project Panel can seethat the potential project is valuable, but where the Specification is notclearly defined.

Reject. This usually happens when the Specification is of poor quality anddoes not meet the academic requirements of the course.

After Approval the Supervisor

It is important to contact the Supervisor as soon as possible. Supervisors are

there to provide advice, but can only do this if regular contact is maintained.Supervisors should be regarded as one of the available resources to be managed

appropriately by the student.

Research & Research Methods

As your Project work will involve you in research, you should look at how to dothis effectively.

This document

www.brad.ac.uk/acad/management/external/els/pdf/introductiontoresearch.pdf is a good summary.

Also refer tohttp://www.bristol.ac.uk/civilengineering/currenttaughtpostgraduates/

msc-water/mschbk.pdf

Additionally there is an RGU document which can be located in the ENM214 MSc

Project module in CampusMoodle.



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1 Introduction to the MSc Project

1.1 Background to the Project

Robert Gordon University places a strong emphasis on the development of engineeringcompetencies.

The Masters project forms a substantial part of the course (60 out of the total of 180credit points), and is an important part of the overall assessment for the award of an

MSc.

In the Masters project you are expected to demonstrate mastery of the principles,techniques and procedures associated with advanced independent study. You will haveto initiate and complete a thorough investigation of an area related to the subjectcontent and discipline areas of the course.

You will work largely independently, supported by a project supervisor and where

appropriate, other specialists. During the project period, you will have to show thatyou have the ability to work effectively from information provided and with little or noguidance.

In the course of the project, you will have to do some or all of:

initiate a research investigation; develop strategies for the solution of problems;

evaluate methodological approaches;

gather, analyse and validate data;

apply data analysis methods;

exercise judgement based on incomplete or contradictory information;

hypothesis and synthesis solutions; communicate research results via a poster, a presentation and a project.

The management of the project has to be carried out within quite strict time limits and

resources, and against the demands of other subjects. Planning and organisation areimportant if the project is to be effective in representing your skills and intellect.

The Definitive Course Document for the Energy Programme details the regulationsrelating to the course (including the project). You should ensure that you are familiarwith the contents of the Definitive Course Document, copies of which are lodged in theUniversity's Central Library. You should also refer to the Universitys AcademicRegulations on the University web site:

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1.2 Principles of Operation of the MSc Project Scheme

The project work is based on the following principles: The project is rated at 60 Credits and is equivalent to 600 hours full-time work;

The student is expected to identify a project and a supervisor; A formal project specification is drawn up;

The project specification and supervisory arrangements are approved by the

School of Engineering and a Supervisor is appointed;

A student who fails to submit a project by the deadline given or who submits late

or who fails the project is allowed one further opportunity for resubmission.



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1.3 MSc Project Schedule

Induction & Project Specification Phase

Responsibilities

Activity

Record

Projects Manager Conducts Project Seminar during Semester 1 (for FT

students only)

PowerPoint

Presentation

ProjectsCoordinator

Gives access to students to the ENM214 Project modulein CampusMoodle.

ENM214 Projectmodule

Student Sources suitable project

Student Submits Project Specification with Gantt Chart to the

Projects Coordinator.

Project

Specification

Projects

Moderation PanelReviews Project Specification and either (1) approves

and allocates academic supervisor or (2) rejects withfeedback and confirms date of resubmission. Decisionemailed to student by Projects Coordinator.

Emailconfirmation

During Project Write-up Phase

ResponsibilitiesActivity

Record

Student Starts work on the Project only once is has been

approved. Students have 15 weeks (FT) or 40 weeks(ODL) in which to complete it.

Student Keeps in regular contact with the academic

supervisor while keeping a diary of work. The studentis responsible for managing their project.

Supervisor Advises and monitors progress of student.

Student Submits 2 x comb bound copies of the project, 1 x A3

laminated poster, 1 x CD containing the project in

Word format and 1 x copy of the Turnitin OriginalityReport.

Project diary

2 x Projects

1 x A3 Poster

1 x CD1 x Originality

Report

Student Prepares their Viva Oral Presentation. PowerPointPresentation

ProjectsCoordinator

Sends the Viva Timetable to students. Viva Timetable

Student Presents at their Viva to an Assessment Panel of

peers. The Panel grade the Viva and Poster on

Grading Grid forms.

Grading Grids



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Post-Assessment Phase

ResponsibilitiesActivity

Record

Supervisor First marks 1 x copy of the project and submits thegrading grid to the Projects Coordinator.

2nd Marker Second marks 1 x copy of the project and submits the

grading grid to the Projects Coordinator.

Project Grading

Grid

Project Grading

Grid

ProjectsCoordinator

Collates 1st marker grade, 2nd marker grade, Vivagrade and Poster grade and calculates overall Projectgrade.

Grades

Spreadsheet

Projects Team Meets to moderate the grades if it is required, otherwisethey are confirmed.

ProjectsCoordinator

Processes the grades and presents them to theAssessment Board.

AssessmentBoard

Spreadsheet

Assessment Board Validates the grades.

ProjectsCoordinator

Ensures the grades are available to students on theStudent Portal and produces the Transcripts for studentsto collect or has them posted.

GRADUATION!

Transcripts



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2 Project Defin ition and Management

2.1 Projects with Industrial Collaborators

Students who are sponsored by, or have close contact with an industrial company maywish to undertake a project which relates to that companys activities. This isencouraged. The industrial partner may initially like to submit an informal projectdescription which can be discussed with staff in the School. For those suggestions

which are followed up, a more tightly specified specification is produced in the normalform. A student undertaking the project will have both an industrial supervisor and anacademic supervisor. He is still expected to spend a significant portion of his work atthe University but may spend periods at the industrial collaborator's premises wherethis is appropriate.

This generates real company project work and gives you the motivation to completethe research successfully. In many cases you will have your own ideas for a potentialproject - perhaps drawn from your current work experience. An existing or pastcompany project is not acceptable; nor is a team project with which you areassociated.

Members of staff in the School of Engineering and the Energy Centre staff havecontacts with outside organisations (e.g. private and public companies, local

authorities, government departments and charities). Such organisations are often thesource of valuable project specifications.

Interests in a particular project area will usually be focused on a single contact withinthe organisation. You should try hard to maintain the best possible relationship withhim/her and keep him/her properly informed of your progress. Remember, however,that they will have other commitments and will have to allocate you only a proportion

of their time.

Your first contact with your Supervisor should be to discuss the project idea. YourSupervisor will be able to give you more details about the background of the project,and will suggest other contacts and further reading. Any delay on your part at thisstage is likely to have serious consequences later on.

At an early stage, you should establish detailed objectives for the work involved.

2.2 Allocation of Supervisors to Students

The Projects Team will allocate a supervisor on the basis of the workload of academicstaff and their technical specialities.

2.3 Formal Project Specification

Your project is defined in a Project Specification. This states the aims, objectives andconstraints associated with the project to all concerned. Bear in mind that you aredoing postgraduate work at Masters level and that you are aiming to be the masterof your research subject.

The Project Specification document is developed by you in conjunction with theSupervisor and submitted to the MSc Projects Coordinator in the Energy Centre. It

then goes through the process of moderation to ensure that:



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the Project Specification is relevant to the course aims and objectives; the project aims are feasible;

the subject has sufficient potential and an appropriate challenge (in terms oflevel and volume) for a Masters degree;

suitable supervisory arrangements are in place; the resources required to support the project are available within the

University, or accessible elsewhere; any confidentiality issues and ethics issues have been considered.

An example of a complete Project Specification is in Appendix 1.

2.4 Project Confidentiality

A project may have company/research confidentiality issues, and the report may haveto be considered a confidential document. All investigations, findings, results,

interpretations, conclusions and recommendations contained within the Report are theproperty of either the Client, the student involved, and/or The Robert Gordon

University (RGU).

The Report or any part of it will not be published in open literature or otherwise

released to any third parties in any form whatsoever except with the prior writtenconsent of each RGU, the Student and the Client.

It is understood that upon request, the Report will be made available for inspection by

external examiners and by nominated staff of RGU for assessment and academic auditpurposes.

A sample confidentiality form is given in Appendix 3.

2.5 The use of Specialist Software

Once a student has had their Project Specification approved by the ProjectsModeration Panel, they will be in a better position to gauge as to whether specialistsoftware is to be used. Students should refer to the Guidelines for Use of EducationalLicences Software. The current version is located in the Postgraduate SupportModule in CampusMoodle.

If specialist software is required, students should complete the Specialist SoftwareRequest form (see Appendix 5) and submit this to the Projects Coordinator in thefirst instance.



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Operation of Project

2.6 Role and Responsibili ties of a Supervisor

Supervisors will be able to give help, advice and encouragement when asked, or if

they think that such action is necessary.

The main roles of the supervisor are to:

maintain overall, general, guidance of the project; direct students towards specialised help;

assess the level of resources (technicians, equipment and finance) available;

provide a critical and rational sounding board for ideas;

assess (mark) the project.

A Supervisor will not do your project for you, nor will they provide a detailed set of

instructions. A project is not like a laboratory exercise, where a detailed method is

given orally or in writing. In your project you will need to develop your own methodand plan. At no point will Supervisors approve (officially or unofficially) any ofyour work.

Supervisors will normally arrange to have a series of meetings with you (not normallyless than 6 contact discussions during the project time), but they will want to know assoon as possible if you run into difficulties.

Remember that Supervisors have other commitments, and you may not be able tohave a long meeting without an appointment. Be prepared to use telephones and e-

mail, and to leave written messages.

Note: If you have any problems contacting either your Supervisor or your Sponsor,you should contact the Projects Coordinator as soon as possible.

The specific responsibilities of the project Supervisor will, to some extent, depend onthe nature of the project, the level and duration of the project and whether projectsare School generated and allocated or student generated and self-selected. Theresponsibilities are to:

assist the student: to clarify the topic; to be clearly focused and not over-ambitious; and to advise the student on the viability of ideas;

direct the student to relevant areas of information, literature sources andspecialised internal/external help;

advise on appropriate methodologies/techniques;

advise on referencing style and the problem of plagiarism;

maintain regular supervisory contact in accordance with School policy and inthe light of discussion of arrangements with the student; i.e. set-up a series ofdiscussion sessions;

regularly monitor the student's work. Supervisors should keep a written log ofthe opportunities for formal contact offered to students and the actualoccurrences of formal contact. Encourage students to keep a written record ofall supervisory contact/support noting key points of discussion;

assist the student in managing the timetable of the project;



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assist the student in identifying when problems are likely to be encounteredand how they might be tackled;

ensure the student is made aware of inadequate progress and/or standards ofwork below the expected level or any assessments which do not reach therequired standard. Consistently unsatisfactory progress should be made known

to the student in writing;

read and comment on drafts of the project, where this is requested by thestudent and return such work with constructive criticism and in reasonabletime. Supervisors should not be correcting spelling mistakes and effectivelyediting the project/report. Students requiring assistance with this aspect oftheir work should be encouraged to seek appropriate assistance from theLearning Support Centre;

ensure any external communications are appropriate and will not reflect badlyon the University;

participate in assessment of the project;

ensure effective liaison between him/herself, the student, any secondsupervisor, and any external person/body involved in the study;

inform the School/the Projects Coordinator of any serious difficulties thatarise.

2.7 Role and Responsibil ities of the Second Marker

The main roles of the Second Marker are to:

to participate in assessment of the project

assess (mark) the project i.e. to act as the Co-Examiner

ensure effective liaison between him/herself, the Supervisor, and where relevant,any external person/body involved in the study.

2.8 Responsibilit ies of the Student

A project belongs to a student. The prime responsibility for the management of theproject lies with the student, and you must maintain dialogue between yourself andyour supervisor. You are expected to:

(i) manage the relationship with your Supervisor, keeping in regular contactwith him/her according to School policy/arrangements agreed;

(ii) discuss with the Supervisor the type of guidance and comment that you findmost helpful;

(iii) agree a schedule of contact discussions with your Supervisor forreports/briefing on progress, ensuring the agreed schedule is adhered toand any deadlines met;

(iv) take the initiative in discussing any problems with the project work and/orits supervision so that these can be resolved as soon as possible;

(v) keep a diary of work conducted related to the project. This would include:notes on discussions/correspondence with Supervisor(s) and any other

internal/external specialists; literature read and comments; ideas/designs;results of tests/experiments; problems found and solutions; equipment



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details and settings; project costs; resources used; diagrams, plans,sketches, photographs; raw data; disks/CDs etc.;

(vi) submit the project and/or other items in the specified format, on time and

according to the School/The Energy Centre mechanism for handing-inproject work, and to submit for any other related assessments as required

by course regulations.

Do not expect your supervisor to come up with ready-made answers. Theresponsibility for solving problems lies with you, but your supervisor will be able tosuggest other methods of approach if you have exhausted all your own ideas.

Difficulties which are the responsibility of the School (eg major equipmentbreakdowns) are a different matter, and will be solved by staff (or appropriateallowances made).

2.9 Keeping on top of your project (Responsibili ty Plan Hand in Date)

You have now started on your project. Some of you have had experience in projectsfrom earlier courses and employment. For some it seems like a large task so youwill need to manage the whole process very carefully.

Here are some comments, ideas and suggestions:

a) Responsibility

1. It is your responsibility to manage your project.

2. Now is the time to read through again the Project Guide and the associated

FAQs.

3. Keep in touch regularly with your Supervisor Little and Often would be areasonable approach.

4. Do not expect your Supervisor to read and comment on sixty pages within two

days. It is not your Supervisors job to check spelling and punctuation.

5. Alert your Supervisor as early as possible if you are experiencing problems.

Your Supervisor can then support you as you deal with the problems.

b) Plan

6. Prepare a Plan (this is part of the Specification) and monitor your ownprogress against the Plan. Take effective action if you are behind targets.

7. Do not, under any circumstances, incur unauthorised expenditure, unless, ofcourse, you are going to pay this yourself.

8. Keep a project diary.

c) Writing-up/Hand-in Date

9. Begin to structure and write your Report early. It should be possible to identify

Chapter and Section headings and to write the Introduction.

10.Keep back-ups of everything you do on a computer. Last minute crashes arenot an excuse for late hand-ins.



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11.It is your responsibility to decide that your work is ready to hand in on thedeadline. Your Supervisor will not approve your Report beforehand.

2.10 Finance and Expenditure some key points

Some postgraduate projects are financially supported by the industrial sponsor.

Industrial sponsors may also help by providing test facilities, samples, access to dataand so on. It is important that you establish clearly at an early stage the extent ofthis help. Do not exceed it.

The financial resources of the School are limited. Some allowance is made forexpenditure on projects, but there is no specific sum allocated against any particularproject.

Use of these funds is subject to the approval of the Head of School. You should makeevery attempt to use the considerable existing resources of the School in equipmentand materials.

If you consider that the purchase of items or services is essential, you should contactyour Supervisor without delay. You will need to be prepared to fully justify yourrequest for funds. He/she will then explain the formalities of the requisition system,

and make the necessary arrangements. Funding is not guaranteed

You must keep a detailed record of all expenditure on your project, since your report

may need to contain a section on costing.

DO NOT INCUR ANY UNAUTHORISED EXPENDITURE



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3 Project Execut ion

3.1 Liaison with Supervisor

Your project will have arisen from a commercial/industrial source or researchrequirement, and the outcomes of the project will have been quite closely defined.

It is essential that your Supervisor is adequately informed of the status and progressof your project during the period of its development. This will require periodic contactwith your supervisor at appropriate intervals dependent on the nature of yourinvestigations. It is your responsibility to ensure that such contacts take place.Remember that Supervisors will have a limit on the time available for supervision.

You should have a minimum of 16 hours of supervisory contact time duringyour Project period. Contact time is made up of face-to-face meeting times,

email contact times, telephone call times etc.

You should make sure that you keep notes of meetings. The structure of the meetingswill vary, but it is worth arriving with the following provisional agenda:

Progress since the last meeting, and against the plan; Intended work before the next meeting;

Difficulties experienced or help required.

You should keep a project diary in a bound notebook (not a loose leaf folder),or use appropriate software in which you record all the day-to-day details of progress.

These include: references (not every word, but the essentials), ideas, notes ofmeetings with supervisor, equipment details and settings, raw data, costs... even

phone numbers. Over the project period, it is very easy to forget some importantdetail unless it was written down. Do not trust your memory for reconstructing detailsof activities carried out months ago.

This diary will form the basis of information to be presented in your project.

Your Supervisor and the External Examiner may wish to see your diary. It may alsobe required when you apply for Chartered Engineer status.

3.2 Technic ian Support in the School of Engineering

Projects which have a practical content and which may require the use of laboratoryfacilities can be allocated some technician support.

Students will be informed of a particular technician who will be their first point ofcontact with such support.

The technicians of the School form a very significant resource and have considerableexperience and skills.

The School technician resource is limited, and may only be available if justified. Likesupervisors, technicians have many other responsibilities and are unlikely to be

instantly on-call. Make sure that your Supervisor is fully aware of any work that they



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may be expected to undertake, and that such work is sensibly planned to avoid lastminute overloads.

3.3 Safety

The Schools safety policy and the University's safety policy are displayed on the notice

boards.

Students should also refer to the Schools Student Health & Safety Booklet. Thecurrent version is located in the Postgraduate Support Module in CampusMoodle.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY AREFULLY AWARE OF, AND COMPLY WITH THE SAFETY POLICY.

In the School of Engineering, when working in laboratories (excluding IT laboratoryareas):

you must wear protective clothing; you must wear protective boots;

you must wear protective glasses if the work demands them;

you may not operate powered equipment outwith normal hours (i.e. 0900 to 1700);

you must check with the technician responsible for the laboratory before using anyequipment.

If you are working in company premises, you should discuss health and safety policiesand procedures with a company representative.



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4 Project Preparation

4.1 Purposes of the Project Report

The main point of your Project report is to convey clearly and accurately theimportance of your work to another reader.

While you write your report, always consider the point of view of the reader. You haveto persuade the reader that you have done work at Masters Level and that this work isworthy of a good grade.

Do not expect the reader to make guesses at what you have said. It must all be clearin the text.

So in summary, your Project Report should exist to contain a combination of some orall of the following:

To present information; To report findings;

To critically assess theoretical approaches to a topic;

To evaluate the success of one or more methods of investigation;

To consider applications and practical implications of your work; To consider possible future developments.

Because of these goals the Project Report should demonstrate:

Clear, logical and analytically rigorous presentation of information;

Evidence of serious and critical thought based upon, although not limited to,

the data you have collected.

4.2 Aim of Individual Engineering Research Investigation

This exercise is a means to develop skills in the investigation and analysis ofengineering problems and creativity in devising effective solutions, through the

detailed research of one selected topic.

On completion of this exercise, students should be able to:

Integrate material from the different areas of the course within the project workarea.

Analyse, plan, execute and critically review a major project based on a briefdrawn from the context of the course.

Report in writing and orally on the work undertaken and the approach adopted.

4.3 Project Report Types

Project activities are likely to fail into one of the following categories:

(a) experimental investigations;

(b) design, build and test projects of a component or simple system;

(c) extended design exercises, without construction of a prototype.



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The type of project activity will dictate, to a certain extent, the nature and format ofthe project report. The content of typical report types are given below.

(a) A Report for an Experimental Investigation:

A clear statement of the objectives and the initial specification; An introduction and summary of previous work already done;

A statement of applicable theory;

A description, with sketches or drawings of apparatus;

Tables and/or graphs of recorded data;

Tables and/or graphs of derived values; Discussions of results, trends, sources of error;

Conclusions based on evidence produced;

Specifications for future work.

(b) A Report for a Design Build and Test Project:

A clear statement of the objectives and the initial specification; The formulation of the particular design solution, with appropriate technical

analysis; Working drawings of the design solution; Aspects of manufacture of the design solution; Performance values of solution on test;

Critical appraisal of the solution with respect to initial specification (conclusions); Specifications for future design or development.

(c) A Report for an Extended Design Exercise (without Manufacture and

Test of Prototype):

A clear statement of the objectives and the establishment of the initialspecification;

The synthesis of possible design solutions with sketches; The evaluation of alternative solutions and the selection of an optimum solution;

The detail design of the particular optimum solution, with appropriate technicalanalysis, material selection and manufacture considerations;

General arrangement and detailed drawings of the design solution; Critical appraisal of solution with respect to initial specification;

Indications for future extensions of the design exercise.

4.4 Project Length

A typical project will be approximately 6000 10,000 words in length. This limitexcludes diagrams, charts, tables, appendices.

4.5 Type Size, Font and Margins

Reports should be typed in one-and-a-half or double spacing on good quality A4 size

paper, with the text printed on one side only. There must be a margin at the left sideof 40mm and at the right of 25mm. Top and bottom margins must be 25mm. Thetype face should be clear e.g. Verdana or Arial (Size 11 font) and of adequate density.(Draft quality on a dot-matrix printer is not acceptable.)



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4.6 General Guidelines for Project Planning

The following checklist of requirements is helpful in the preparing the project:

The objectives of the work should be clearly stated and their background and

significance explained;

There should be an appropriately scaled review of the literature and anyprevious work relevant to the project;

The review should be restricted to relevant material only;

Do not rewrite textbook material, and keep the review as short as possible;

The methods employed (experimental, analytical, conceptual modelling etc)

should be adequately explained and their usejustified;

The planning and execution of the project must be clearly set out;

Your own contribution must be identifiable, and any contributions made byothers must be acknowledged;

References in the text should be identified and listed in the standard form at

the end of the report;

The discussion and conclusion must be suitably handled, including an objectiveassessment of what has been achieved and specifications for any further work;

The report must clearly show evidence of:

o a clear insight into the problems involved and ability to select the mostsuitable methods of attack;

o the ability to reason analytically, to weigh evidence and to drawappropriate conclusions;

o appropriate judgement in making decisions, handling the programme ofwork and managing the project;

o a proper scientific attitude i.e. providing adequate evidence forstatements made, avoiding unsupported assertions;

o the ability to work independently and to develop novel/original ideasand approaches.

After having completed the plan it should be discussed with your supervisor.

Appendix 8 contains a project check list.

4.7 Writing the Project

In your report, you should aim to produce a piece of work which is your masterpiece.The quality of the presentation should be the same as that as a paper published in areputable journal.

This section offers some advice on the writing of the project. It should be read inconjunction with the next sections which stipulates the requirements for the

presentation and arrangement of the project.



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i. Title: the title must be short and indicate what your project is about, keeping toabout five words, although you may want to add a sub-title;

ii. General Introduction: one of the most important sections. A good introductionwill do some or all of the following:

a. Define the topic/issue and indicate broadly its extent, nature and significanceby reviewing existing knowledge in the field;

b. State clearly the aims of the project and your research objectives;

c. Provide background information which the reader will need (this includesdefining technical terms or words which are to be used in a special sense);

d. Indicate the arrangement of the main sections of the project.

Make the Introduction as interesting as possibleremember that the readersresponse to the whole project is often disproportionately determined by theIntroduction.

iii. Main Sections: concentrate on writing one section at a time. In each section itmay be necessary to do all or some of the following:

a. State the evidence (indicating sources);

b. Analyse and evaluate the evidence;

c. State any conclusions or recommendations from the analysis.

If statistical material is included, ensure that it is presented in the most conciseway possible using clear tables and/or charts. Do not confuse the reader withpages of statistics: supplementary data can be included in appendices at theend of the project.

iv. Abstract: this should be a brief summary. It should do all or some of thefollowing:

a. Describe the hypotheses tested and indicate their theoretical importance;

b. Explain how the hypotheses were tested;

c. Summarise the main features of the results;

d. Summarise the discussion and key implications of the findings;

e. Summarise practical implications etc. based on (b);

f. Highlight any important conceptual development or theoretical insight;

g. Summarise briefly wider considerations or implications, including strengths andweaknesses of your data and methods.

The Abstract should never introduce new material which is not alreadycontained in the body of the report.

4.8 Supplementary Advice on Report Writing

Students should refer to the Schools Technical Report Writing Guide. The currentversion is located in the Postgraduate Support Module in CampusMoodle.

In summary:

Take care with English - use short, simple, meaningful sentences; Use references to:

add authority;



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avoid unnecessary background, derivations and proofs, etc.; refer to work;

Cite references properly;

List references properly;

Acknowledge all sources including figures at point of use.

On completion use the following processes:

Spell/grammar check;

Proof read and amend as necessary;

Spell/grammar check again;

Proof read again!

This process can easily take a full day!

4.9 Arrangement of Project Sections

A project will normally contain the following sections (in order):

Project Front CoverCaption Page

Title page

Confidentiality statement, if any

Declaration

Abstract

Dedication (optional)Acknowledgments

Table of contents include page numbers;List of figures, if any

List of tables, if any

Lists of symbols, abbreviations, nomenclature, conversion factors (if any)Main Text

References all references must be cited in text

Bibliography, useful material not cited in text, if any

Appendices background and/or supporting material, if any

Project Back Cover

4.10 Caption Page

The caption page (the first page behind the cover) must contain the following

information:

the name of the University and of the School at the top of the page, thus

The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

School of Engineering

in the window position, the course name, the title of the project, the name ofthe author, and the month and the year of the course e.g.

MSc Oil and Gas EngineeringPredicting Sand Production Problems

R J BrownAugust 2006



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4.11 Title Page

The title page (the second page) must contain the following information:

Title of the project

Full name of the author, followed, if desired, by any academic or professionalqualifications or distinctions

The month and year of submission.

At the foot of the page, you should include the statement:

This report is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for thedegree of Master of Science in D r i l l in g a n d W e l l En g i n e e r i n g * at TheRobert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

( * t h e s e w o r d s s h o u ld b e m o d i f i ed t o s u i t y o u r d e g r e e t i t l e )

4.12 Confidentiality Statement

If the work is of a confidential nature, and the project is not to be placed in the publicdomain, the formal confidentiality statement (Appendix 3) should be included.

4.13 Declaration

The Declaration, a signed statement from you saying that your project is your ownoriginal work is required. A template can be found in Appendix 5.

4.14 ODL Employer Supervisor Confirmation

Applicable to Distance Learners only, this confirmation should be signed by asupervisor of the student at his/her place of employment. It serves to verify that thework of the project is exclusively that of the students. An example can be found inAppendix 11.

4.15 Abstract

The abstract should be no more than 300 words on a single page.

The abstract should enable the reader to assess the background, methodologies,achievements and conclusions of the project easily and quickly. You should examinethe Abstracts of papers in the Journals in the Library for examples.

One additional copy of the abstract should be provided in loose form when the projectreport is submitted. This abstract will be used by External Examiners and for recording

purposes within the School. These should be headed with your name, the title ofproject, the course and the session year of submission at the top.

4.16 Dedication (optional)

Do not number this page.

If used, text should be brief and centred on page.

The dedication does not appear in the table of contents.



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4.17 Acknowledgements

An acknowledgement is a brief statement of appreciation for, or in recognition of, anyspecial assistance. You should acknowledge the help and support of individuals,companies and organisations who provided assistance and support.

Give this page a Page Number (Use lower case Roman numerals i.e. i, ii,iii,ivetc)

Leave two blank lines. Begin typing the text.

Type the heading ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in bold text centred at the top ofthe page

A simple acknowledgement might read I am grateful to my Supervisor, Dr xxxxxxx inthe School of Engineering for his guidance and help.

4.18 Table of Contents

A sample Contents Page is shown in Appendix 5.

Type TABLE OF CONTENTS bold centred at the top of the page.


Leave one blank line. Type listings and page numbers.

The title of the chapters and sections should be listed and worded exactly as

they appear in the body of the project/report. All materials that assemble the project must be listed in table of contents (see

Assembling the project order)

4.19 List of Figures

Type LIST OF FIGURES bold centred at the top of the page.


Leave one blank line and type the listings.

The List of Figures uses the captions as they appear below the figures in thetext.

4.20 List of Tables

Type LIST OF TABLES bold centred at the top of the page.

Give this page a Page Number (Use lower case Roman numerals i.e. i, ii,iii,iv

etc). Leave one blank line and type the listings.

The List of Tables uses the captions as they appear above the tables in thetext.

4.21 List of Symbols, Abbreviations, Nomenclature

Type LIST OF SYMBOLS or ABBREVIATIONS bold centred at the top of the page.



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Abbreviations and acronyms should be defined the first time they are used in the textand can be set out in the nomenclature.

Give this page a Page Number (Use lower case Roman numerals i.e. i, ii,iii,ivetc).

4.22 Main Text

The body of the project is the substance of the project/report. All pages within thebody should be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals. Page numbers shouldbe positioned centrally at the bottom of the page and 20mm above the edge of thepage.

Chapters are customarily divided into subsections with sub-headings.

Each chapter should begin on a new page. Chapter and section numbering should beclear and appropriate to the narrative. For example:

1 General heading or title

1.1 Sub heading or title



1.3.1 Sub heading or title of the sub heading or title of 1.3

In general, good technical reports do not have to resort to any more than two

sub-divisions after the major section or chapter number.

On the first page of each chapter, type Chapter X in bold text centred at the top of

the page.

Leave a blank line and type the name of the chapter (e.g. INTRODUCTION

bold centred at the top of the page)

Leave one blank line and begin typing the text. Begin numbering with Arabic numerals, starting with Page 1.

1.1SECONDARY HEADINGS SHOULD BE FLUSH LEFT BOLD The numbering for sections should be in Arabic numerals.

Text of the secondary heading should be in upper case.

1.1.1 Third Level Headings should be Flush Left Bold

The numbering for sections should be in Arabic numerals.

The first letter in each word of the third level heading should be capitalized.

4.23 Equations (positioning, numbering and referencing)

Positioning: Left justified. In text, the citation of equations should be enclosed in parentheses (1.1).

Numbering should be sequential by chapter and number, right justified.

Example:

X = AB2 (4.1)

Equation parameters should be defined the first time they are used in the text.



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4.24 Diagrams

Diagrams should, if possible, be reduced to A4 size with the same margins.

Diagrams can be positioned either within the text to which they relate (if the diagramis referred to once only) or at the end of the report (if the diagram is referred to a

number of times). Diagrams from another source should be properly acknowledgednext to the diagram.

4.25 Numbering of Figures, Tables and Captions

Figures should be centred between the left and right margin with their captionscentred below the figure single spaced. Figures should be consecutively numbered per

chapter e.g. Figure 1.1, Figure 1.2, Figure 2.1, Figure 2.2, etc.

Tables should be centred between the left and right margin with their captions centredabove the table single spaced. Tables should be consecutively numbered within achapter e.g. Table 1.1, Table 1.2, Table 2.1, Table 2.2, etc.

The figures and tables in the appendices must be numbered.

If any table continues to subsequent pages, the caption is not repeated but the toppage line should read: Table 1.1 (continued).

If photographs are used, they must be of a high enough resolution to ensure that therelevant detail is clearly seen.

Diagrams, drawing, figures, etc. must be sufficiently clear, sharp and large to be easilyreadable.

The page on which the table/figure appears is numbered consecutively with the maintext.This page number is used in the LIST OF TABLES OR LIST OF FIGURES. The captionsas they appear on the figure and table must be identical in every way with their listing

in the LIST OF FIGURES OR TABLES.

4.26 Units and Abbreviations

The international of System of units (SI units) should preferably be used in theproject. If other units such as Field units are used then conversion factors should begiven.

Unit symbols should be used with measured quantities, i.e. 1mm, but unit names are

used in the text without quantities, .i.e. a few millimetres.

4.27 References and Bibliography

Any report that makes use of other works either in direct quotation or by reference

must contain a reference listing of these sources. The use of documented earlier workis a standard feature of reports, so long as you properly assimilate and reorganise theinformation which you incorporate into your own report. (See section on Plagiarism).



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Definitions:

BIBLIOGRAPHY is the list of sources you have used (normally books andreports).

REFERENCE is the detailed description of the item from which you haveobtained your information.

The purpose of cataloguing items in sections of References and Bibliography is toacknowledge the work of other writers, to demonstrate the body of knowledge onwhich you have based your work, to enable other researchers to trace your sourcesand to lead them on to further information.

There are a number of systems for referencing. The Harvard System is used in TheRobert Gordon University. The Harvard system has advantages of flexibility, simplicity,clarity and ease of use both for author and reader.

Students should refer to the various Guides in the Study Skills Section located in thePostgraduate Support Module in CampusMoodle.

4.28 Appendices

There may be information that is important to your project report for completenessand/or reference, but which does not fit naturally into the main body of the report and

is not essential for proper understanding. For example, if you are using a specialsoftware tool or experimental equipment/procedure you might wish to provide the

reader with a brief description of this tool and equipment/procedure. This descriptionis probably best placed in an appendix, and the reader directed to the appendix at theappropriate point in the main text of your report. Another appendix could usefully

contain all the detailed tabulated results from testing your system.

These are only suggestions what goes into the appendices is very dependent on thespecific project you are undertaking. You need to exercise your own judgement.

Be aware that project assessors are not obliged to read any part of any appendix.Appendices are there for the reader to use if they feel they need them. Material thatforms an essential part of your project and that you feel is essential that an assessorreads should not be relegated to an appendix.

Not all reports will need to have appendices. Appendices are added to contain dataand text that is supportive and/or too lengthy for inclusion in the text. They should not

be listed as chapters in the project.

In your appendices, you should:

Count and number page(s); Continue numbering all pages consecutively;

Divide the appendices into APPENDIX 1, APPENDIX 2, etc. depending on

type and amount of material used; Have a cover sheet for each appendix. For each cover sheet, type APPENDIX

1, APPENDIX 2, etc., centred at the top of the page;Leave three blank lines and type the title of the material;

List each appendix and its title separately in the Table of Contents;

Ensure appendices meet paper and margin guidelines; Number, caption, and list tables and figures in the appendices in the List of

Tables and List of Figures.



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4.29 Further Reading on Project Writing

There are a number of books which have been written about projects and reports inthe Universitys Library. If you use one, make sure that it is relevant to engineeringprojects in University courses. Although many of the general principles are the same,

certain subject or discipline areas have many different detailed requirements.

Example textbooks are:

Writing at University A Guide for Students, 2ndEditionBy P Creme and M Lea

Open University Press 2003

ISBN 0335 21325-1

Technical Writing and Professional Communication for Non-native Speakers of

English

by T Huckin and L OlsenMcGraw-Hill 1991

ISBN 0-07-030825-X

Writing and Presenting Scientific Papers, 2ndEditionBy B Malmfors, P Garnsworthy and M GrossmanNottingham University Press 2003

ISBN 1-897676-12-3

Communication for Engineering StudentsBy J Davies

Addison Wesley Longman 1996

ISBN 0-582-25648-8

A Guide to Writing as an Engineer, 3rd

EditionBy D Beer and D McMurrey

Wiley 2009

ISBN 978-0-470-41701-0

4.30 Important Dates

All the deadlines for the various tasks, including the deadline for submitting theproject, will be communicated to you by the Projects Manager or by the ProjectsCoordinator.



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5 Poster and Presentation

5.1 Project Poster

MSc students are required to produce a poster display about their project activity.A poster should be of A3 size, and laminated and should show diagrams, photographs,text and data which would be of interest to other engineers. Complex displays shouldbe avoided. The poster should aim to have an immediate appeal to non-technical

visitors to the School, but should also provide some content for those with morespecialised interests.

The posters are intended to be a means of improving your skills in the presentation ofinformation. This will prove to be useful at conferences, business presentations, and

seminars after graduation and is an important skill in industry, commerce andacademe. The posters are also intended to give visitors to the School a clear idea of

project activities.

There are many examples of posters in the laboratories and corridors of the School,

and students can also get advice from Supervisors. Appropriate posters will beretained on permanent or semi-permanent display.

5.2 Poster Design

The Ideal Poster is designed to...

provide a brief overview of your research work;

initiate discussion;

attract attention; give you something useful to point to as you discuss your work;

stand alone when you're not there to provide an explanation;

let people know of your particular expertise.

The poster could contain the following features (brief summary):

Title, Author, supervisor, Institutional Affiliation - the major required element isthe Title, Author/s and Institution section. This section is found at the top ofthe poster. Affiliation may be listed near the bottom right of the poster if youdo not wish to take the space at the top of the poster.

An "Introduction" to the project (rationale, background, clear statements aboutwhat you have set out to do (e.g. problem you intend to solve, reasons why

you chose to study this problem, proofs you are trying to establish). theseshould then lead to declarations of the project aim(s) and objectives.

An "Applicable Theory" or "Methodology" or "Experimental" section to explain

the basis of the techniques, procedures and data collection you are using

including any assumptions made (to put your results into context).

A "Results and Discussion" section A summary of the most important resultsto explain what you have done so far and what it tells you (your

interpretation). Implications of the findings.

A "Conclusion & Further Work" section summarising your findings to date andthoughts about how the work will progress from this point. Did your study raisequestions?



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5.3 Poster Layout

Determine what three or four key points you want to make. You want your poster tocover the key points of your work - not all the details.

Before you begin work in PowerPoint, design and lay out the poster ahead of time. Youmay use one piece of paper to mock up the poster. Add the headings; roughly scratchthe text layout and graphics. Tape or pin the sheets to a wall and rearrange them untilyou like the arrangement, all the while remembering to keep within your spaceallocation. This will determine how your final poster will look. The process of designingyour poster by laying it out is called storyboarding.

Numbered lists and lists of "bullets" are good ways to communicate concisely.

The flow of your poster should be from the top left to the bottom right. The movement(pathway) of the eye over the poster should be natural - down the columns or alongthe rows. Use arrows, pointing hands, numbers, or letters to help clarify the sequence

or flow of the poster, if necessary. Some presenters prefer to number the sections insequence to guide the reader through the poster.

Examples of past good posters are placed on the department walls of the Energy

Centre (4th floor corridor, Schoolhill Campus). You will need to submit ONE xA3poster. You need a PowerPoint programme to create a poster. Template Poster isattached in Appendix 9.

5.4 Project Presentation

Planning and creating a PowerPoint presentation needn't be difficult or stressful. Use

these guidelines to improve the quality of your presentation in terms of:

Content of your presentation; Planning and creating a PowerPoint presentation.

The Quality of the Research:

The topic should be thoroughly researched. Make sure that you know the specifics oneach slide (who? what? when? where? how?).

Slides Organisation:

There should be a logical flow from beginning to end, like in written work. The mainconcepts of the presentation are to plan, focus and practice.

Plan the layout of your presentation. Strongly consider drawing up an outline beforeyou begin assembling the actual slides.

Focus on the main point(s) you want to make. "WHAT YOU HAVE DONE", WHY andYOUR CONTRIBUTION

Practice your presentation with your supervisor or colleagues at least once before youpresent it to your audience.



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In order to strengthen the visual part of your presentation you should:

Keep unity of slide design. Use one type of design; Use a maximum of five points per slide and five words per point;

Preview your presentation ahead of time. The presentation slides on your

computer screen appears differently when projected onto a wall; Make sure that your audience can read your slides. Print out a slide containing

text, then try to read the slide. If possible, preview your presentation in the room

you'll be using; Avoid animated texts and sounds. These can distract your audience from the

main points you are making;

Avoid switching between programs (such as calling up a Web page). This takes

extra time and can make it difficult for your audience to remain focused on your

presentation;

Monitor timing. Use two slides per minute as a maximum.

MSc students are required to give a 20-minute presentation (a short lecture) abouttheir project activity. For the presentation:

Make sure you arrive at least 30 minutes before the time of your presentation.

Prepare two hard copies for your presentation, in case of PC or disc failure.

Prepare overhead viewgraphs for your presentation in case of PC or disc failure.

Prepare backup slides ready for potential viva questions.

There will be presentation facilities available in the room.

Go through your presentation with your supervisor beforehand, if you feel it isnecessary.

The slides should be minimal in number (for 20 minutes), to the point and they shouldbe convey to the audience "WHAT YOU HAVE DONE" and YOUR CONTRIBUTION.

Presentation Guidelines example slide list:

Project title and your name (1 slide)

Introduction (why it is important to do this project) (1 slide)

Objectives (1 slide)

Methodology (1 slide)

Case study (field background) (1 slide)

Analysis & results (7 slides - depends on your work)

Conclusions & recommendations (2 slides)

A total of approximately 10-14 slides will be enough for 20 minutes presentation(maximum) time. Remember that each slide should contain only a few words. Usebullet points to provide summary information.

After the presentation, there will be a short period (10 minutes) for you to answerany questions from the audience.

Do not read from your slides. Face the audience and talk directly to them.



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6 Submission & Assessment of Component Parts of the MSc Project

6.1 Submission of the Project

What is required?

Two copies of the completed final Project Report must be submitted comb-bound(for Aberdeen-based students - machine situated in room C317 Clarke Building,Schoolhill)

an electronic copy on CD the A3 laminated Project Poster

copy of the Turnitin Originality Report

All must be sent in one package and sent/submitted in person to the MSc Project

Coordinator in the Energy Centre (4th Floor Clarke Building, Schoolhill, Aberdeen,AB10

1FR) on or before the designated submission date and time.

Front covers (pre-printed) and back covers can be obtained from the School in roomC404 or by sending an email request to have them posted to you. You should notprovide your own covers. The pre-printed front covers have a pre-cut window, withinwhich certain information must be visible. Thus, the caption page (the first page) ofthe report must contain that information in the appropriate space.

Your industrial contact may also require a copy (or copies).

6.2 Deadlines and Extensions

Deadlines, penalties for failing to meet deadlines and procedures for applying for

extensions are described in the Programme Regulations and published in the Student

Handbook.

You are expected to manage and organise your coursework assignments in a waywhich anticipates that events will not always run smoothly.

It is important that you keep an academic member of staff fully informed of anydifficulties at the time at which they occur.

How do I request a Project Extension?

You must complete the relevant section of the Extenuating Circumstances form.Forms are available either from the Postgraduate Support module in CampusMoodle or

from the Universitys website, below.

http://www4.rgu.ac.uk/academicaffairs/quality_assurance/page.cfm?pge

=44250

Complete and return the form no later than five days following thesubmission date.

Return the completed form to your Projects Co-ordinator by hand or recorded delivery.Do not delay submitting your form if you are waiting for your evidence from a third

party. Remember that it is your own responsibility to ensure that your independentsupporting evidence is given to your School or Department and that forms without

supporting evidence may not be considered.



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Please be aware that the Universitys Academic Regulation A3, paragraph 6.1 relatingto Non-Academic Misconduct, might be applied should there be any doubts about theauthenticity of the claim.

In what circumstances might a Project extension be granted?

The following are circumstances which would usually be considered:

Serious or significant medical conditions or illness (including both physical and

mental health problems). Exceptional personal circumstances (e.g. serious illness or death of an

immediate family member or close friend, including participation in funeral and

associated rites; being a victim of significant crime). Exceptional travel circumstances beyond your control.

Ailments such as very severe colds, migraines, stomach upsets, etc., ONLY

where the ailment was so severe it was impossible for you to attend to hand in

your work.

Su p p o r t i n g e v i d e n c e

When you submit a Project Extension Request you must provide independentsupporting evidence from an appropriate third party. Requests without such evidencewill not normally be considered. It is your own responsibility to organise andprovide supporting evidence which confirms to your Module Coordinator thatyour request has a valid reason.

Note GPs (general practitioners/medical doctors) do not normally issue medicalcertificates for illnesses which are not related to absence from paid employment andthey are entitled to charge for letters written to confirm periods of illness.

In what circumstances would a Project extension NOT be granted?

The following are examples of circumstances NOT normally considered for Projectextensions:

Minor ailments such as colds, headaches, hangovers, etc.

Inability to prioritise and schedule the completion of several pieces of work

over a period of time. Problems caused by English not being your principal language. You should seek

advice in good time from the Study Support Centre or the English Language

Tutor.

Poor time management or personal organisation (e.g. failure to plan forforeseeable last-minute emergencies such as computer crashes, printingproblems or travel problems resulting in late submission of Project).

Circumstances within your control (e.g. a holiday; paid employment if you are

a full time student; something considered more important).

Requests made after the published deadline for their receipt, i.e. by the Projectsubmission date except where you were unable to meet the submission date

for exceptional reasons which can be validated.

Requests without independent supporting evidence.

Requests which do not state clearly how your inability to hand in yourassessment on time was caused.

What happens to my Project Extension Request?



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Requests will be considered by the Projects Team and their decision communicated toyou by the Projects Co-ordinator. Requests are treated as confidential documents;only those members of staff who are involved with the decision making process willsee your request form.

6.3 Penalties for Late Submission or Failure of the Project

The University regulations are specific in relation to late submissions.

(i) Project material (project, poster) submitted after the specified date shallonly be accepted if there is an acceptable valid reason. A latesubmission, accepted because of extenuating circumstances, shall beassessed in the normal way.

(ii) Projects received late without valid reason shall not be accepted andshallreceive no grade, and shall count as an assessment opportunity.Hence, you have now missed an assessment opportunity. This was your

first attempt and you have one further attempt.

The actual grade obtained for a re-assessed module, including the attempt at which thisis achieved, will be recorded on your transcript. For this purpose, the re-assessedproject module aggregate shall be given the maximum of a threshold pass of a D

mark.

For the MSc, the grade awarded for the project work contributes to the determination ofdistinction.

More information on the determination of distinction and regulations on classes of

degrees awarded, please refer to the University Regulations A4.8.2.

6.4 Plagiarism & Turnitin

Students should also refer to the Plagiarism Guide. The current version is located inthe Postgraduate Support Module in CampusMoodle.

Plagiarism (a form of academic misconduct) is the practice of presenting the thoughts,writings or output of other people as if it were your own without acknowledgement oftheir source(s). Typically this takes the form of:

A cut-and-paste of text, data, diagrams, images from another persons

-Project;

-Internet site;

-Research paper;-Company document etc.

The use of someone elses software code

Academic misconduct is unacceptable and will result in a full investigation withappropriate penalties imposed if you are found guilty. The University wants you to

avoid any accusations of academic misconduct and strongly encourages you to takenote of the following information and guidance.

All material used to support a piece of work, whether a printed publication or fromelectronic media, should be appropriately identified and referenced and should not

normally be copied directly unless as an acknowledged quote. Text translated into thewords of the individual student should in all cases acknowledge the source. To avoid

accusations of plagiarism, it is essential that you properly reference your work.



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Coursework

(C1)

Please also refer to the various Guides to the Turnitin Plagiarism Detection Service onCampusMoodle, as students will need to refer to these when submitting their Projectto Turnitin.

THERE ARE SERIOUS PENALTIES FOR PLAGIARISM

6.5 Calcu lation of Final Project Mark

Please also refer to the current Module Descriptor for the MSc Project ENM214 whichcan be located in the University Module database:http://www4.rgu.ac.uk/prospectus/modules/disp_modulesearch.cfm?

An excellent project will demonstrate that the candidate has: made excellent progress against objectives (i.e. worked hard); made a major contribution in organising, executing & managing the project;

provided a clear evidence of application of knowledge, skills, approach and

critical faculties from the rest of the course and used those to benefit the project;

written an excellent review of any background materials which sets the contextfor the project;

produced a deliverable (report) of a good quality and full presentation of results;

displayed good communication skills, both in making their group presentationand in producing their individual project report.

The calculation of the overall grade for the module is based on minor (C1) andmajor (C2) coursework components as shown in the grid below:

Coursework C2

66A

5B

4B

3C

2D

1F

5 A B C C D F4 B B C D E F3 B C C D E F2 C C D D E F1 F F F F F F

A grade of NS for either component will result in an overall grade of NS for the

module.

ComponentType of

AssessmentBrief Description of Assessment

C1 CourseworkPresentation and poster (result givenas rounded average of two numericgrades 6..1 as per assessment grids)

C2 CourseworkProject report (result given as a grade

6..1 as per assessment grids)



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6.6 Assessment of Project

Supervisors and Second Markers are responsible, in the first instance, for assessingyour project and allocating a mark. They will take into account many factors,including your interest and enthusiasm as well as your competence and the quality of

your Project Report, Poster and Presentation.

Implementation and Evaluation: the academic supervisor and the second marker willaward this element of the assessment based on the content and presentation of theMSc Project. The assessment will take account of:

evaluation and critical appraisal of design approaches; justification of chosen design and implementation, identifying

requirements/critical factors influencing final choices; innovation of design and implementation choices;

clear description of implementation/solution and detailed explanation of solutionstructure;

critical evaluation of outcomes, measuring results/performance;

balanced reflection on project achievement, evaluating extent to which project

aims have been achieved, commenting on efficacy of early project decisions,referring to project plan and project future developments;

clarity, structure and style of written presentation and illustrations.

The individual grades awarded are determined using grading forms that meet therequirements of the University grading scheme. These are given in Appendix 10.

The overall assessment process is as follows:

The Supervisor ....

examines his/her records and notes relating to your research and planning in

preparation for the project monitors your performance during the execution of the project work reads the project and produces a grade mark for this

will attend the Presentation (and grade it) and study the Poster (and grade it).

The Second Marker ...

reads the project produces a grade mark for this. will attend the Presentation (and grade it) and study the Poster (and grade it).

A Project Moderation Board...

receives the grade marking forms from each supervisor and second marker reviews t

engpg007 msc projects handbook-rev1-mar 2010

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